Today my friend and I paid a return visit to StoneRidge Golf Club in Stillwater. It’s been a number of years since I last played there and I was anxious to get back to the course that GolfWeek currently ranks as the number one public course in the metro area (#4 overall for Minnesota).

Head professional and general manager Keith Kalny is a player and supporter of the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am, as is assistant pro Eddie Wynne. I got to chat with Mr. Wynne a little before the round and one interesting thing of note was the new-style divot repair tool that they give out and recommend (I’ll do another post on that next week).

I was hoping to take new pictures of the course, but the weather did not cooperate. We managed about six holes before the rain started and we had a 20 minute lightning delay on the “back ten.”

StoneRidge is a well-run and well-maintained course designed by Bobby Weed in 2000. It’s really unlike anything else in the state: lots of waste bunkers, wispy grasses in the roughs, false fronts, quarry boulders and multiple options around the greens combine to bring a bit of Europe to the east metro.

Standard public rates are $79 walking and $95 riding and include range balls and a nice yardage book. Memberships are also available and begin at $3400/year. For more information or to check on tee times, call 651-436-4653.